“The founder Shi Shuai once encountered trouble filling his stomach when he wasn't paid his salary as a young security worker,“ Li said. “This motivated him to help others when he started his business.“

　　Delivery workers like Fan Xingang, 41, who has been riding for 10 years, are among the regulars. During a 10-hour-plus working shift in frigid temperatures, the hot meal would often be his first real break of the day.

　　“My colleagues told me about the place offering discounted meals. It's not just good for the low price,“ Fan said. “It's the respect and kindness they show us.“

　　Another delivery worker, surnamed Zhao, 45, who often works more than 12 hours daily, came across the discounted meals by happenstance.

　　“A man told me about the discounts at all the chain's branches. It's such a relief on my tight budget. It's hard to support my life here and provide living expenses for my family in my hometown,“ Zhao said. The meal deals save him for at least 10 yuan ($1.37) a day.

　　“Many of us riders are short of money. The support helps a lot,“ he said.

　　Generally, around 100 discounted meals are sold daily in each branch of the lamb soup restaurant, which also occasionally donates food to needy residents nearby. With a special budget and donations from customers whose hearts are touched by the initiative, the project has been running smoothly for six years.

　　Song Jingzhi, manager of the restaurant's Dengshikou branch in Beijing's Dongcheng district, said some customers even prepay for meals that are then given to those in need. Receipts left on the wall serve as markers of the many kindnesses.

　　Beyond Beijing, similar initiatives have sprung up in Shanghai, Tianjin, Heze and Yinchuan. The kind embrace of one warm meal on cold winter days envelops more people in need.

　　Guo Yanqicontributed to this story.